July Complex Fire Update July 31, 2020 - 8 a.m. California Interagency Incident Management Team 12 Mike Nobles, Incident Commander

Information Center:  530-208-5615 Hours of Operation: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Special notes: There is a RED FLAG WARNING until 8 p.m.
Because of successful firefighting efforts, RESIDENTS ONLY have been allowed to return to private cabins at Medicine Lake. Cabin owners should use extreme caution on the roads. U.S. Forest Service campgrounds, recreational areas, and day-use areas at Medicine Lake will stay closed to support firefighters.
Weather: Today will be sunny, dry, and hot with gusty winds, with a high of 96 and humidity below 10%. Afternoon winds are predicted to be southwest at 12 to 17 mph with gusts up to 28 mph. This combination of strong winds and low humidity will result in Red Flag conditions this afternoon into tonight. Long-term weather trends are forecast to stay hot, breezy, dry and unstable. No rain or thunderstorms are predicted for the next seven days. 
Current Situation: The Caldwell Fire was tested yesterday by Red Flag conditions, and the fire stayed within control lines. The fire is now 79,316 acres and 61% contained. Firefighters expanded and reinforced fire control lines around a majority of the fire yesterday. Smoke was visible as Caldwell Butte and other areas within the interior of the fire continued to burn. The southwest part of the fire is active, and crews implemented burning operations to keep the fire from moving toward Medicine Lake. Firefighters are still scouting for and creating secondary control lines between the fire and the lake. The fire is holding at the 49 Road in Lava Beds National Monument (also known as the Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway). Tule Lake, on the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge at the north side of the fire, has minimal fire activity. On the east side within the Modoc National Forest, the fire stayed back along County Road 120 and along control lines around the burn area east of the railroad tracks. BNSF Railway’s fire train has left the fire after effective service and returned to its base at Klamath Falls, OR. Night resources remain on the Caldwell fire, aiding daytime efforts.
Red Flag conditions may lead to increased fire behavior today, and drought stressed fuels are still holding heat for long periods of time. Any new starts could show active fire behavior today. 
To mitigate COVID-19 risks, fire personnel are spread through three fire camps, with strict COVID-19 precautions in place.
Today, firefighters remember and honor a fellow firefighter, Dave Ruhl, who died in the line of duty on a wildfire in Modoc County on July 31, 2015. 
Allen and Dalton Fires: The Allen and Dalton fires should soon be in monitor-only status. Firefighters are taking suppression repair actions, and managers are planning to transfer command of these fires back to the Modoc National Forest.
Fire managers will employ tactics that safely engage fire while prioritizing firefighter and public safety and protecting values at risk. Life safety will always remain the number one priority. COVID-19 mitigations are being taken to limit exposure risks to firefighters and the public, per CDC guidelines. 
Closures and Evacuations: The Medicine Lake recreation area is CLOSED, including campgrounds, recreation areas and day-use areas. The Lava Beds National Monument remains closed.
For More Information: Facebook: facebook.com/ModocNF  Twitter: @ModocNF
Call: 530-208-5615
E-mail: mdffireinfo@gmail.com
July Complex Statistics: Start Date: July 22, 2020. Location: Approx. 31 miles NW of Canby CA, on the Modoc National Forest.              Cause: Lightning. Size: 79,316 (Caldwell), 1035 (Allen), 1,367 (Dalton). Percent Contained: 61% Caldwell, 100% Allen, 100% Dalton. Resources: 1663 personnel, 101 engines, 23 dozers, 36 water tenders, 8 available helicopters. 

EVACUATION ORDER UPDATE FROM SISKIYOU COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE- MEDICINE LAKE

The evacuation order for the Medicine Lake cabins has been lifted and residents may return. Please be cautious of fire apparatus on the roadways.

The Medicine Lake Recreation Area and all associated sites remain closed as they continue to be occupied with fire personnel and equipment.
 
Other recreation opportunities on Modoc National Forest can be found here: https://www.fs.usda.gov/recmain/modoc/recreation

The overlap of the COVID-19 pandemic with wildfire season in the United States complicates public health response. People who are either susceptible to or affected by COVID-19 might have health conditions that also make them vulnerable to wildfire smoke exposure.

In addition to smoke, the influx of people from outside the local area creates another potential layer of risk to communities.With those risks in mind, the incident management team assigned to the July Complex has implemented a series of measures to reduce potential exposure to those working on the fires as well as members of the community. More than just social distancing, hand washing and wearing masks, the team has sought avenues to keep firefighters and support personnel out of the community such as consideration as to the location of camps, use of local facilities and proper procedures if and when contact is made with the general public.

"We continue to be impressed by the preventative measures that this incident management team has implemented,” said Modoc County Sheriff William “Tex” Dowdy. “Fire teams are especially mindful of their impact into rural communities, COVID-19 brings an even greater sense of pressure among fire camps. They are doing everything in their power to mitigate any transmission of the virus. The team has been working with our local health officials and we are very proud of their efforts to keep Modoc County safe." 

July Complex Fire Update July 30, 2020 - 8:00 a.m. California Interagency Incident Management Team 12 Mike Nobles, Incident Commander 
Centro de Informacion:  530-208 5615 Horario: 7 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Informe Especial: There is a RED FLAG WARNING se extiende hasta, Julio 31 alas 8:00 p.m.
Condicion del tiempo Apmospherico: Conditions para el Jueves son altas tenperaturas con el aire ventoso y secolos cielos durante el dia con tenperaturas .En los 90 y Humedad menos del 10% Ylos vientos estaran del sur al suraestee10-15 mph con Ranfagas de de 25mph.Tiempo extendendio seguira , Soleado,caliente,ventoso,y inestable.  
Situacion actual: El Incendio Caldwell tiene 79,316acres de area afectada y se matiene en 45% de liquididacion. Los combatientes Tuvieron un dia muy excitoso  al inplementar contra fuegos y de esa manera aumentar  las lineas de control en el sur y suroeste del insendio .El humo sera Mas visible oy por los actos mecionados  de igula manera los insendios Gillen Y Caldwell an cresido y juntado y de hoy en adelnte seran mencionados como un solo incendio que sera identificado como el Insendio Caldwell 
Condiciones de Alerta  Roja pueden incrementar el conportamiento dl fuego por el dia de hoy por cause de la sequis de los combustibles y seguiran manteniendo el calor por periodas mas largos. Y encase de nuevos insendio podrian tener un composramiento mas agresivo.
La orden para mitigar COVID-19 la administracion a establecido 2 campammetos , para permitir alos combatientes Poder mantener la distancia y las reconmenmdaciiones establecidas por el equipode manejo de fuego’ 
Incendios Allen & Dalton: ceran proximaente monitoreados por los conbatientesque estan asiendo supresson y actividades de reparacion los manejadores estan planeando Transferir el mando de estos insendios de regreso al Bosque Nacional Modoc 

Los manejadores del fueg estaran inplementando tacticas de suguridad para poder entrar alos incendios y dar preoridad  alos conbatientes y seguridad publica y los valres que esten en riesgo. La seguridad de la vida es preoridad y seguira ciendo LA PREOCUPACION NEMERO 1. Covid-19 mitigaciones recomanciones por CDC. 
Clapsuras & Evacuaciones : Semantienen de manera abligatoriaen las siguinteas areas. Medicine Lake y El Monumento NacionaLava beds.
Para mas Informacion: Inciweb:     https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6881/ Facebook: facebook.com/ModocNF  Twitter:     @ModocNF Linea de informes : 530-208-5615 Email: mdffireinfo@gmail.com

Estadisticas de complejo July Start Date:  July 22, 2020      Ubicasion :  serca de Canby, CA, on Modoc National  Forest     La Causa del Incendio:  Rayos   Tamano:  79,316 (Caldwell), 1035 (Allen), 1,367 (Dalton) Percent Contained:  45% Cadwell, 80% Allen, 100% Dalton 100% Recursos: 1695 personal, 103 bomberas, 23 dozers, 30 Pipas de agua, 14 Hellicopteros disponibles 

 A Red Flag warning has been issues for areas surrounding the #JulyComplex because of strong winds and low humidity.  Red Flag Warning URGENT - FIRE WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Medford OR 825 PM PDT Tue Jul 28 2020 CAZ284-285-300300- /O.CON.KMFR.FW.W.0007.200729T2100Z-200730T0300Z/ Siskiyou County from the Cascade Mountains East and South to Mt Shasta-Modoc County Except for the Surprise Valley- 825 PM PDT Tue Jul 28 2020 ...RED FLAG WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM TO 8 PM PDT WEDNESDAY FOR STRONG GUSTY WIND WITH LOW RH FOR FIRE WEATHER ZONES 284 AND 285... * Impacts: FOR Strong, gusty wind with low relative humidity and   high fire danger will likely contribute to a significant spread   of new and existing fires. * Affected area:   In Northern CA...Fire Weather Zones 284 and 285. * Wind: Southwest 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. * Humidity: 7 to 12 percent. * View the hazard area in detail at: https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/mfr/HAZARD * A Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are either occurring now, or will shortly. * One less spark, one less wildfire. $$

Special Statement
Red Flag Warning for strong winds and low humidity 14:00 – 20:00 today. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality issued an air quality advisory for Klamath County due to smoke from wildfires in Northern California.

Fire
Fire activity might increase over the next few days due to breezy winds and increased temperature paired with decreased humidity. Firefighting efforts have been effective at gaining containment.

Smoke
Smoke concentrations will be highest near the fire area and is expected to disperse to the north and northeast throughout the day with settling into drainage bottoms overnight. Klamath Falls, Tulelake, and Chiloquin may experience poor air quality. Numerous fires in the region are contributing to increased smoke production.

Other
The July Complex includes the following fires: Caldwell, Allen, Dalton, and Gillam. Avoid exposure when possible by limiting outdoor activities when smoke is present.

Special notes: There is a RED FLAG WARNING today, July 29, from 2 until 8pm.

Weather: Today’s conditions will be hot, dry, breezy, and unstable. The combination of gusty afternoon winds and low humidity will result in red flag conditions early this afternoon into the evening. Skies are forecast to remain sunny during the day, with temperatures as high as 95. Relative humidity could reach as low as 8%. Winds should be light and variable in the morning, becoming south-southwest at 10-15mph with gusts up to 20mph in the afternoon. Thursday and Friday could bring more red flag conditions due to wind and humidity. Conditions will remain sunny, very hot, dry, breezy, and unstable.

Current Situation: Fire behavior was much calmer on the Caldwell Fire yesterday than the previous two days; the fire is now 40% contained. Yesterday, crews conducted burning operations to even out the fire’s edge and fill in unburned areas. On the west side of the fire, the 49 road is holding well. Firefighters were able to begin direct control line construction on the south side of the fire, working from the 49 road eastward. Additionally, crews are still creating secondary control lines south of the fire perimeter. On the southeast corner, dozers and firefighters succeeded in creating solid control line, and this allowed the residents of Tionesta to return to their homes. On the east side, fire held well along the 120 road, and fire crews built control line all around the fire area that had crossed over the railroad tracks. On the north, fire flanked into the marsh and the tule is receptive to burning, however, fire is holding well at the 120 road.

The Gillem Fire was active yesterday and is now 3,669 acres. It is burning in difficult terrain that is not fully accessible to firefighters. Dozers and engines worked where safety allowed, and firefighters conducted burning operations along the 49 road. Aircraft were not able to drop water over the Gillem Fire yesterday because of smoke impacts.

Crews and equipment will continue similar work as yesterday on the Caldwell Fire, securing the fire’s edge and ensuring that control lines are solid and effective. Firefighters on the south side will extend the direct line they began yesterday. Firefighters working in the Gillem Fire area will construct direct and indirect control line and hold and improve existing control line to help limit spread. Night resources remain on the Caldwell and Gillem fires, and they are successfully enhancing daytime efforts.

Red Flag conditions could contribute to increased fire behavior today, and drought stressed fuels are still holding heat for long periods of times. Any hold-over new starts from previous lighting strikes could show active behavior today.

In order to keep mitigating COVID-19 risks, fire managers have established two new fire camps, allowing personnel to spread out and maintain social distancing recommendations to the best extent possible. 

Allen and Dalton Fires: The Allen and Dalton fires have line around their entire perimeters. Staff are performing suppression repair activities, and managers anticipate being able to transfer command of these fires back to the Modoc National Forest.

Fire managers will employ tactics that safely engage fire while prioritizing firefighter and public safety and protecting values at risk. Life safety will always remain the number one priority. COVID-19 mitigations are being taken to limit exposure risks to firefighters and the public, per CDC guidelines.

Closures and Evacuations: There remains a MANDATORY EVACUATION in place for the Medicine Lake Recreation Area. The Lava Beds National Monument remains closed.

For More Information:      

Inciweb:     https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6881/                Facebook:               facebook.com/ModocNF

Twitter:     @ModocNF                                    Fire Info Line:       530-208-5615                     Email: mdffireinfo@gmail.com

July Complex Statistics               Start Date:  July 22, 2020      Location:  Near Canby, CA, on Modoc National  Forest                      Cause:  Lightning 

Size:  75,567 (Caldwell), 1035 (Allen), 1,367 (Dalton) 3,669 (Gillam)              Percent Contained:  40% Cadwell, 80% Allen, 90% Dalton, 0% Gillem             Resources: 1676 personnel, 98 engines, 23 dozers, 28 water tenders, 12 available helicopters

 July Complex / Caldwell Fire Community Meeting

Tulelake Fairgrounds 
800 Main St. 
Tulelake, CA 96134

Meeting will be at the Arts and Crafts Building.

Please wear face coverings and practice 6 feet of social distancing if attending in person.

Event will be live-streamed
www.Facebook.com/ModocNF/